Francisco Rodriguez placed on restricted list for two days, docked pay by Mets following arrest

John Munson/The Star-LedgerFrancisco Rodriguez has been suspended from the Mets for two days following his arrest on assault charges.

NEW YORK – In the wake of his arrest on assault charges, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez was placed on the team’s restricted list here this afternoon. He will be removed from the roster and suspended for two days. He will not be paid. He will not be with the team -- reliever Ryota Igarashi will rejoin the club in his place.

Team COO Jeff Wilpon – who is at Citi Field but has yet to address reporters – issued a statement chastising Rodriguez.

“Ownership and the organization are very disappointed in Francisco's inappropriate behavior,” the statement read, “and we take the matter very seriously.”

Following a 6-2 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday night, Rodriguez sent his girlfriend's father to a local hospital, police said, with an abrasion to his face and a bump on his head. Rodriguez spent the night at Citi Field, in police custody.

Members of the Mets said the fight occurred inside the team’s family lounge, about 125 paces from the clubhouse. Jeff Francoeur’s wife was in the room. Jose Reyes’ wife and children saw the fight.

“That’s his problems, his family,” Reyes said. “You don’t want to see that happen though, especially in the ballpark. But it is what it is.”

This is the fourth time in Rodriguez’s year and a half with the club that he has been involved in an altercation: One with former Yankee Brian Bruney, one with former team executive Tony Bernazard and one with bullpen coach Randy Niemann.

Before the suspension, manager Jerry Manuel tried to downplay the aftershocks from Rodriguez’s arrest and the charges of third-degree assault against girlfriend's father.

“We’ve had a lot of things go one, here and there,” Manuel said after before today's game with Colorado. “We are men, and things come our way. And we still have a job to do. We have to perform. Which, right now, we’re not doing very well at. But we still have to put forth our best effort.”

Manuel declined to comment any further on the incident. He said he has not spoken to Rodriguez and he does not plan to address the team about the fight. He elected not to place judgment on Rodriguez’s behavior.

“I’d like to wait and see, or hear, the whole story,” Manuel said. “It’s unfair to comment or accuse of something here or there. Wait ‘til we hear the whole story. I don’t know what the whole story is.”